Enclosed electric device



Oct 31 1939. H. L. VAN VALKENBURG 2,177,756

` ENCLOSED ELECTRCy DEVICE 0d. 31, 1939. H L VAN VALKENBURG 2,177,755

ENCLOSED ELECTRIC DEVICEV Filed April 5, 1957 3 ShebS-Sheei'I l ATTORNEY.

Oct 31, 79391 H. L. VAN VALKENBURG 2,177,756

l ENCLOSED ELECTRIC DEVICE Filed April 5, 1937 3 Sheets-Sheet 3 Patented Oct. 31, 1939 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE ENCLOSEDl ELECTRIC DEVICE Application April 5, 1937, Serial No. 135,014

13 Claims.

This invention relates to electric circuit controlling instrumentalities and more particularly to mounting and enclosing means thereior.

One object of the invention is to provide a mounting means for an electric circuit controlling instrumentality which shall provide for normal relatively rigid support on the back wall oi the enclosing box and which shall also provide for supported movement to the exterior of the box to uncover the box interior for manipulation.

Another object of the invention is to provide a mounting means for an electric instrumentality which shall be relatively rigid in its enclosed interior position and which may be readily moved to a supported exterior position and in its exterior position be readily detachable from its enclosure.

Another object of the invention is to provide a mounting for an electric circuit controlling in-` strumentality which shall provide for sliding and swinging movement relative to its enclosure into a position exterior thereof and which provides for detachment of the instrumentality While it is in its exterior position.

Other objects and features of the invention will be readily apparent to those skilled in the art from the following specication and the appended drawings illustrating certain preferred embodiments of the invention in which:

Figure 1 is a front elevational View of the assembly according to the present invention with the front cove-r opened and partially broken away.

Figure 2 is an enlarged partial sectional view on the line II-II of Figure l. y

Figure 3 is a View similar to Figure l with the parts enlarged and in part broken away and with the front cover not shown.

Figure 4 is a vertical sectional View on a smaller scale on the line IV-IV of Figure 3.

Figure 5 is a partial horizontal-sectional view showing the unit moved to its exterior position.

Figure 6 is a vertical sectional view showing the manner in which the instrumentality is detached from the enclosing box.

Figure 7 is a horizontal view, partly in section, of a modified form of mounting means with a moving position shown in dotted lines.

Figure 8 is a vertical sectional view taken on the line VIII-VIII of Figure '7.

The assembly according to the present invention comprises an outer enclosing box I having an openable cover 2 which may be hingedly mounted thereon. Within the box is disposed an electric circuit controlling instrumentality which, as here shown, comprises an electromagnetic switch generally indicated at 3 and which may take the form shown in the co-pending application of Josef Bierenield and Lawrence G. Maechtlen, Serial No. 97,532, filed August 24, 1936, for Electric switches. 5 This instrumentality has its various parts mounted on a metallic backing plate ll which may be rigidly secured to the back of the box I by means of studs 5 threaded into spacers 6 attached to the back wall of the box. Rigidly secured to the back 10 plate 4 as by means of studs 'I is a supporting plate 8 adapted to carry the switch when the studs 5 are removed. The primary function of the spacers 6 is to provide a wiring space between the back of the box and the plates l and 8 and in 15* addition to provide clearance for the plate 8 and the studs 1. The supporting plate ii may take any form desired and is shown as a truncated inverted triangle to clear the two lower studs 5 and may have its upper base notched to provide 2O clearance for the stud 5 at the upper left hand corner of the back plate 4. Mounted on the side wall of the box are a pair oi spaced S-shaped angle members 9 and l I which may be connected to the side wall of the box in any manner and 25 are here shown as attached by studs I2. This construction results in a pair oi vertical legs it and I4 extending the depth of the box in spaced relation to the side wall thereof. The legs iiand I4 are bent over in the front of the box and 30 extended to the side wall asat l5 and i6. The front portions I5 and l@ adjacent to the side wall are provided with notches at 'their upper edges as at Il and I3. The upper edges of the legs I3 and I4 adjacent to the lback wall ci the :is`

box are similarly provided with notches il and 2|. The plate 8 is provided with suitable notches adjacent its top and bottom edges adapted to cooperate with the angle members 5i and li. The lower edge is provided-with a simple notch 22 en- 40 gageable with and guided by the top edge of the leg I4. The side of the plate adjacent its upper edge is provided with a somewhat L-shaped notch 23 adaped to interlock with the leg i3 on the bracket 8. An additional shallow notch 2li may 45 be provided to give clearance to the supporting leg of the bracket 9.

The operation of the assembly will now be described. As shown in Figures l to l inclusive the parts are in their normal operating position with 50 the circuit instrumentality rigidly mounted on the back wall of the box by studs 5 and spacers 6. In the operation of drawing in of circuit wires and for other operations it may become desirable to clear ythe interior of the cabinet to make it more readily accessible. For this purpose the studs 5 are removed whereupon the support of the instrumentality and its back plate ll', will be transferred to the supporting plate This will now normally be maintained in the interior position due to the engagement of the top edges of the notches 22 and 23 in the notches 2l ld respectively. The supporting assembly is then. raised slightly to disable the interlocking notches whereupon the entire assembly may be readily slid forward with the plate 8 and its associated parts supported by the angle members 9 l l. Upon rea-ching the front of the box in this movement the supporting parts may then be readily rotated through an angle of 90 into the position shown in Figure 5 which is again a stable position due to the looking of notches and 23 with the notches .1S and Il respectively. In this position the interior of the box is cleared for any purpose which may bo desired and at the same time the circuit controlling instrumentality will be maintained in supported relation on the box. To again place the instrumentality within box the movements are the exact reverse ci those heretofore described.

For replacement and for repair and other purposes which cannot be achieved with facility while the circuit controlling instrumentality is supported on the box provision is made for readily detaching the supported paris and this is more clearly illustrated in Figure 6. In the swungout position of Figue 5 tie plate il and its supported parts are raised upwardly until the notch 22 clears the front portion it on the angle member Il and the lower edge of the plate il is swung forwardly as shown in dotted lines in Figure 6 whereupon the front portion l5 on the angle 9 may be disengaged -from the L-shaped notch 23 by again r lsing the plate rIhis permits the supporting plate and the instrumentality supported thereon to be entirely detached from the box. In again connecting the parts the notch 23 again receives the front portion lli on the angle 9 while the plate is in the t-.lted position shown in dotted lines in Figure 6 whereupon the lower end is swung inwardly and the slight raising of the plate permits the notch 22 to be again engaged with the portion lb on the angle il. The plate 8 may then be rotated back into its front position parallel to the back of the box and thereupon the entire assembly may be slid backwarc into the interior position of the switch which may then be rigidly connected to the back wall or" the box by screwing the studs l5 into the spacer It is to be noted that the plate E can be removes from the box only when in its exterior swung-out position as in Figures 5 and 5 and that at all other times it will be interlocked with the angles 9 and ll. This permits ready sliding and rotating movement to the exterior of the box without danger of the supported parts becoming detached of themselves and falling with possible attendant injury. On the other hand, while in its exterior position, a very simple procedure permits the entire detachment and removal of the instrumentality from supported relation with the box. The construction is simple and rigid due to the nal connection of the backing plate to the back of the box permits the support oi relatively heavy instrumentalities where vibration is undesirable.

In the modication illustrated in Figures 7 and 8 there is shown an outer enclosing box 3| provided with an openable cover, not shown, and on the back wall of which are rigidly mounted spacer elements 32 interiorly threaded to receive studs which rigidly mount a metallic backing and supporting plate .'34 upon which an electric circuit controlling instrumentality, not shown, is mounted. Ihe studs are provided with nbre washers to prevent the falling out of the studs when loosened and the spacers 32 are countersunk, as shown, to provide clearance for the ends of the stud in the interior movement of the instrumentality. To the plate 34 is rigidly secured, as by means of studs 35, a bracket lil which is provided adjacent the left hand side wall ol the box with enlarged openings 37 which receii'e strap portions 38 rigidly secured to the side wall of the box by riveting or welding. ine openings 3l are considerably larger than the straps 3@ to Jrovide for easy swinging movement oi" the instrui mentality and also to provide lost motion or play to permit the easy alignment of the studs 33 with the spacer The operation ol this form of mounting is readily apparent. As shown in Figure 7, it is in its interior position with the circuit controlling instrumentality rigidly supported on the back wall of the box through the studs 33. When these studs are loosened the backing plate and the circuit controlling instrumentality carried thereby may be swung, as shown in dotted lines, to the exterior of the box upon the hinges formed by the engagement between the bracket 36 and the straps 38. To entirely remove the circuit instrumentality from supported relation with the box the studs 35 may be removed and the plate 3d and the instrumentality mounted thereon entirely separated from the box for replacement and repair. This construction provides for easy swinging movement of the instrumentality to the box exterior to facilitate the drawing in of circuit wires and the connection of conduit and at the same time provides for rigid mounting of the instrumentality in its interior position independent of the hinge mounting arrangement.

While certain preferred embodiments of the invention have been specifically disclosed, it is understood that the invention is not limited thereto as many variations will be readily apparent to those skilled in the art and the invention to be given its broadest possible interpretation within the terms of the following claims.

What is claimed is:

l. Supporting and enclosing means for an electric circuit controlling switch comprising an enclosing box having an openable cover, an electric circuit controlling switch within` said box, means mounting said switch for movement to the exterior of the box while supported on the box to expose the box interior to facilitate operations therein, and means in addition to said mounting means for rigidly supporting said switch on the back wall oi? the box in its interior position, said cover being independently openable without disturbing said switch support.

2. Supporting and enclosing means for an electric circuit controlling switch comprising an enclosing box having an openable cover, an electric circuit controlling switch within said box, means mounting said switch for swinging movement to the exterior of the box to expose the box interior to facilitate operations therein while supporting the switch from a side wall of the box, and means in addition to said mounting means for rigidly supporting said switch from the back wall of the box in its interior position, said cover being independently openable without disturbing said switch support.

3'. Supporting and enclosing means for an electric circuit controlling switch comprising an enclosing box having an openable cover, an electric circuit controlling switch within said box, :meansy mounting said switch for swinging movement to the exterior of the box to expose the box interior to facilitate operations therein while supporting the switch from a side wall of the box,

and means in addition to said mounting meansY v able without disturbing said switch support.

4. Supporting and enclosing means for an electric circuit controlling switch comprising an enclosing box having an openable cover, an electric circuit controlling switch within said box, and cooperating means mounted on said box and connected to said switch providing for sliding movement of said switch to the front of the box and for swinging movement thereafter to the exterior of the box to expose the box interior to facilitate operations therein while supporting the switch on the box, and means in addition to said last mentioned means for rigidly supporting said switch on the back wall of the box in its interior position, said cover being independently openable without disturbing said switch support.

5. Supporting and enclosing means for an electric circuit controlling switch comprising an enclosing box having an openable cover, a mounting plate in said box, an electric switch mounted on said plate, and means on a side wall of the box supporting said plate and providing for sliding movement thereof to the front of the box and for swinging movement thereafter to the exterior of the box to uncover the box interior while supporting the switch on the box, and means in addition to said last mentioned means for rigidly supporting said plate on the back wall of the box in its interior position, said cover being independently openable without disturbing said plate support.

6. Supporting and enclosing means for an electric circuit controlling switch comprising an enclosing box having an openable cover, an electric circuit controlling switch within said box, and cooperating means mounted on said box and connected to said switch providing for sliding movement of said switch to the front of the box and for swinging movement thereafter to the exterior of the box toexpose the box interior to facilitate operations therein while supporting the switch on the box, said cooperating means providing for detachment of said switch from the box when in its exterior` position, and means in addition to said last mentioned means for rigidly supporting said switch on the back wall of the box in its interior position, said cover being independently openable without disturbing said switch support.

7. Supporting and enclosing means for an electric circuit controlling instrumentality comprising an enclosing box having an openable cover, a pair of vertically spaced members supported on a side wall of the box and having vertical portions parallel to and spaced from said box wall and front portions extending to the box wall, a mounting plate supported on said vertical portions, an electric circuit controlling instrumentality mounted on said plate, means maintaining said plate within the enclosing box, release of said retaining means permitting said plate and the instrumentality mounted thereon to, be slid to the front of the box and thereafter rotated into a supported position on said iront portions thereby uncovering the interior of the box While maintaining the instrumentality in supported position on the box.

8. Supporting and enclosing means for an electric circuit controlling instrumentality comprising an enclosing box having an openable cover, a pair of S-shaped angle members mounted in vertically spaced relation upon an interior side wall of the box and extending for the depth of the box with front portions bridging the spaces between the free legs of the S and the side wall of the box, a supporting plate slidably engageable with the free legs on said angles, an electric circuit controlling instrumentality mounted on said plate, means for rigidly securing said instrumentality to the back of the box, release of said securing means permitting said plate and instrumentality to be slid to the front of the box and thereafter rotated into a supported position on sai-d front portions hereby exposing the interior of the box to facilitate operations therein while supporting the instrumentality at the box exterior.

9. Supporting and enclosing means for an electric circuit controlling instrumentality comprising an enclosing box having an openable cover, a pair of vertically spaced members supported on a side wall of the box and having vertical portions parallel to and spaced from said box wall and front portions extending to the box wall, a mounting plate supported on said vertical portions, an electric circuit controlling instrumentality mounted on said plate, means maintaining said plate within the enclosing box, release of said retaining means permitting said plate and the instrumentality mounted thereon to be slid to the front of the box and thereafter rotated into a supported position on said front portions thereby uncovering the interior of the box while maintaining the instrumentality in supported position on the box,

and inter-engaging parts on said front portions and plate providing for ready detachment of the plate and the instrumentality mounted thereon from the box while in their exterior position.

10. Supporting and enclosing means for an electric circuit controlling instrumentality comprising an enclosing box having an openable cover, a pair of S-shaped angle members mounted in vertically spaced relation upon an interior side wall of the box and extending for the depth of the box with front portions bridging the spaces between the free legs of the S and the side wall of the box, a supporting plate slidably engageable with the free legs on said angles, an electric circuit controlling instrumentality mounted on said plate, means for rigidly securing said instrumentality to the back of the box, release of said securing means permitting said plate and instrumentality to be slid to the front of the box and thereafter rotated into a supported position on said front portions thereby exposing the interior of the box to facilitate operations therein whil-e supporting the instrumentality at the box exterior, and inter-engaging parts on said legs and plate providing for ready detachment of the supporting plate and instrumentality from` the box in its exterior position only.

11. In an electric switch, an enclosing box having an openable cover, a pair of supporting angle members on a wall of said box, a supporting plate slidably engageable with said members, an electric switch disposed on said plate, means for securely maintaining said switch within the box, release of said securing means permitting said plate to be slid to the front of the box, rounded front portions on said members providing for swinging movement of the plate to the box exterior, and cooperating parts on said members and plate permitting ready removal of the plate .in its exterior position.

12. Supporting and enclosing means for an electric circuit controlling switch comprising an enclosing box having an openable cover, an electric circuit controlling switch, means rigidly mounting said switch on the back wall of the box, and a bracket connected to said switch and having a hinged connection on said box distinct irom said back mounting means to provide Yfor supported swinging movement of said switch to the box exterior when said mounting means is released, said cover being independently openable without disturbing said switch mounting.

13. Supporting and enclosing means for an electric circuit controlling switch comprising an enclosing box having an openable cover, an electric circuit controlling switch, means rigidly mounting said switch on the back wall of the box, and a bracket connected to said switch and having a hinged connection on said box distinct from said back mounting means to provide for supported swinging movement of said switch to the box exterior when said mounting means is released, saidl hinged connection providing for limited movement of said bracket relative to the box to facilitate the application of said mounting means in the interior position of the switch, said cover being independently openable without disturbing said switch mounting.

HERMON L. VAN VALKENBURG. 

